EARTHQUAKES JN dill. I . 



. 



misfortunes to deplore in town; but, in our opinion, there has been destruction elsewhere. The 

 character of the motion, ineivasing UK it did gradually, without Ijcing preceded by noise, and 

 the continuous agitation in which we have been kept lor two days by many slight shocks, 

 remind us of the earthquake of 1K:J">, so fatal in our southern province!. 



\\Y I- ai ii thai in t IK- Parral it was of little importance; and if we could say as much of the 

 North, it would only be an inrmis, -.jin-nt fright we have had; but perhaps Santiago and Valpa- 

 raiso are suffering actually from the effects of these disturbances, which have so often been dis- 

 astrous elsewhere in our country. 



The ('oijuimho ami Copiapo papers make n.. mention of it whatever, no that it could scarcely 

 have been felt in those cities. 



[From " El Araucano," Santiago.] 



CASA BLANCA, April 2, 1851. 



SENOR INTENDENTE: At about 7 o'clock this morning this town was completely ruined by a 

 severe earthquake, coming from south to north, and which continued in all its force more than 

 a minute. The earth has been trembling all day, at intervals of a quarter of an hour, more or 

 less, although not so severely. Only two or three houses remain in good condition, either 

 of this locality, or on all of the neighboring haciendas ; so that, the houses being fallen or 

 completely ruinous, families have no other refuge than under arbors. It is the more lament- 

 able because many will not,- perhaps, be able to complete even ranchos in which to live, 

 and the poor must continue in complete desolation. God preserve you, &c., &c. 



To the INTENDENTE OF THE PROVINCE. 



[From " El Araucano."] 



SAN FELIPE, April 4, 1852. 



SENOR MINISTRO : * * * In this department, and probably in all the others, there were 

 no misfortunes or lamentable accidents, notwithstanding that the temblor experienced here at 

 6f A. M. lasted about the space of a minute, and shook the earth with an extraordinarily quick 

 movement. Only the Matriz church of Los Andes, according to a communication from the 

 governor, has had its walls thrown from the perpendicular, and the towers, with the entire 

 edifice, which are cracked in all directions, threaten speedy and inevitable ruin. It has been 

 ordered to be closed, and I have to-day sent detailed information to the minister (of worship), 

 asking funds for pulling it down, &c., &c. 



To the MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR. 



[From "El Copiapino,' 1 Copiap6.] 



EARTHQUAKE OF MAY 26, 1851. 



EARTHQUAKE. A great earthquake occurred yesterday at about quarter past one in the after- 

 noon, and which still keeps the population alarmed. The misfortunes of which notice has 

 reached us are various ; houses, dividing-walls, and parapets thrown down, though there was 

 no death, perhaps on account of the hour. There were, however, some wounds. 



Other more severe earthquakes may have been felt in times past, though none so long, its 

 duration being estimated at two minutes. In shops of every character there were shelves 

 overthrown and glass or crockery broken ; but the fright was greater than the reality. Per- 

 haps from two to four thousand dollars have been lost on the whole. 



It is generally believed that the shock came from the cordillera, because La Chimha has suf- 

 fered less than the city; but this is more rationally explained by the distinct character of the 

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